Means for moving elongated objects transversely of the line of travel thereof



July 16, 1957 F. L. DILLINGHA'M MEANS FOR uovmc ELONGATED OBJECTS TRANSVERSELY OF THE LINE OF TRAVEL THEREOF Filed May 19. 1955 :4 Sheets-Shet 1 all INVENTOR I". L BILLING/MM ATTORNEYS 799,382 CTS TRANSVERSELY v OF THE LINE OF TRAVEL THEREOF F. L. DILLINGHAM I MEANS FOR MOVING ELONGATED OBJE Filed May 19, 1955 July 16, 1957 4 Sam's-su 2 nMPl 7 mm F. DIL'L'INGHAM ,382

July 16, 1957 MEANS FOR MOVING ELONGATED OBJECTS TRANSVERSELY OF THE LINE OF TRAVEL THEREOF Filed May 19,.1955

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOL F. L DIL LING/IA M ATTORNEYS F. L DILLING ,382

JECTS TRANSVERSELY VEIL.v THEREOF July-16, 19

57 HAM MEANS 'FOR MOVING ELONGATED 0B OF THE LINE 05 TBA 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mad May 19. 1955 a fimr ,Q R Q whom 323% mat mu Y

, V INVENTOR- E. 1. BILLING/MM" mat \\\\k mum ATTORNEYS United States P o Soderhamn Machine Manufacturing Company, dega, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,561 18 Claims. (Cl. 198-21) Ala., assignor to Talia- The present invention relates broadly to the art of article handling and is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 414,323 filed March 5, 1954.

More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in a conveyor of the type to handle elongated cylindrical or substantially cylindrical objects such as logs, pipe, rolls of paper, linoleum or the like, and relates especially to controls for such conveyor which are simple in construction, reliable in operation and inexpensive to maintain. V

A further object is the provision of a pneumatic control means that may be applied to any conveyor system that includes a means to select the routing of articles passing thereover, "so that the routing may be selected by the operator as each object passes before him and the control set so that the routing device will be actuated according to the operators selection when the article reaches the routing station.

Another very important object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and positive control means for a log sorter, more particularly an air operated control system which may be operated from a conveniently located control station remote from the sorter, preferably at a point where an operator is normally engaged with a machine performing a processing step on the articles being conveyed, and who can therefore determine disposition to be made of each article as it leaves the processing station.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a control means for a sorting conveyor of the type outlined above in which the sorting means by which the objects are selectively ejected to one or the other side of the conveyor automatically returns to a neutral position after each ejection movement.

And a still further object is to provide the control means with a delay action so that the ejecting position has a sufficient length of time to assure that the ejected object clears the device before the ejecting means returns to its normal, neutral, or non-selective position.

A further object is the provision of control means that may be set in any of three positions so that successive objects will each be ejected to the same side of the conveyor in accordance with the setting of the control or will pass over the selection station.

Other and further objects and advantages of the device will become apparent from the description below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the second view, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the device invention applied to a log conveyor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device of Figure 1, actuated to eject a log to the left in this view. 7

Figure 4 is a view, partly in section of the trigger valve.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of a trigger valve differing slightly from the valve of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of a selector valve.

of the present as pivoted to a 2,799,382 Patented July 16, 1957 ice Figures 7, 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the operation of the device.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, illustrating a modified spring mounting for the centralizing lever.

In handling elongated cylindrical objects such as logs, it is conventional to use a conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers over which the log passes endwise. This conveyor can be associated with a debarking machine, a log haul to a saw or other kindred apparatus used in the timber industry. Such a conveyor of conventional design is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 where frame 20 including horizontals 20 and legs 20 supports a plurality of rollers 30. Rollers 30 are formed of two frusto conical portions with their small ends at the center so that the rollers form a trough in which the log is held against lateral movement. Rollers 30 may be chain driven, as shown, or may be idler rollers.

In logging operations, it is often desirable to sort logs for size or for quality, in which case it is and has been the practice to stop the log on the conveyor adjacent the station at which that particular log is to be removed from the conveyor, and a man with a peavy or cant hook rolls the log oif the conveyor or a conventional log kicker is used which removes a log to only one side of the conveyor.

By use of the present invention, the log may be ejected at the proper station without requiring the use of a peavy, and one man can, from a selected control point, eject each log at the proper station selectively to either side of the conveyor in accordance with its size, quality, etc. as it passes along the conveyor. Thus this invention can be associated in line with a debarker either before or after the same or at both points in order to control the size and quality of logs being handled by the debarker.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, there are provided between spaced pairs of conveyor rollers 30, two plates 1, supported on shafts. 7 by cross pieces 1'. The shafts 7 are journalled in pillow blocks or bearings 6 carried by the horizontals 20. Plates 1, as shown, are of parallelogram shape with two edges parallel to the side edges or horizontals 20 of the conveyor. The shaft divides the plate 1 into two equal trapezoidal portions.

Secured to one end of each of the shafts 7 are levers 2 which depend at right angles to the plates 1. These levers 2 are respectively pivotally secured at their ends to a link 3.

A double acting pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 5 is clevis mounted at 5'. A piston rod 4 connected to a piston operating in cylinder 5 is preferably pivoted to a boss mounted on one of the plates 1, but is illustrated lever 7 keyed to one of the shafts 7 to simplify the illustration of the device.

Plates 1, as seen in Figure 2 normally lie in a horizontal plane just below the trough of the rollers 30 so they do not impede the progress of logs passing over the conveyor. If, however, a log is selected to be ejected to the left hand side, that is in the direction of arrow B, Figure 3, assuming the log is being conveyed from the right hand end of the conveyor in Figures 1 and 2, and therefore in Figure 3 is travelling away from the observer, plates 1 must be tipped to bring one edge of the plates to a position above the rollers 30.

The manner in which the tipping of plates 1 makes the log, 'or other object roll off the conveyor to the left or v to the right, is ful-ly explained in the application referred to above of which this is a continuation in part. operation is briefly as follows:

Upon operation of a selector valve 19 (to be described below) by moving the handle to the left, Fig. 3, with respect This to the direction of movement of the log, or other "object on the conveyor, the piston in cylinder 5 will be raised which will raise the end of lever 7' which will rotate shaft 7 clockwise as viewed in Figure 2 to raise the corners 10, 11 of plates 1 to the position seen in Figure 3.

The plate corner '10 swingsupwardly until it is above or at the level of the largest diameter of the conveyor rollers 30. Plate corner 11 then'is' substantially higher than the top of .the conveyor rollers so'that, as" seen in Figure 3, the log L will roll off to the selected side B of the conveyor and also clear the bearings and/or guards mounted on horizontal 20'.

It will be noted that the device normally lies flatbelow the level of the traveling log and is not actuated to eject the log until the log is over the ejector device. The cylinder and piston means, therefore, must act quickly since the conveyed article is in motion and for this reason the device may be called a log kicker. Immediately after the selected-log has cleared the side of the conveyor the kicker plates are returned to their horizontal position so as not-to impede the flow of further logs onto or over the conveyor. It is to be pointed out that the device is usually utilized while the conveyor is in operation.

Where unusually heavy logs or pipe are being handled, three or more kicker plates may be linked together and more than one fluid or other motor may be used in order to distribute the load.

The description has referred to the use of the device of the invention in connection with logs. It is clear, however, that it may equally well be used in connection with pipe, rolls of tar paper, linoleum or any other articles that are generally cylindrical.

It is to be pointed out that it is conventional practice to to associate inclines with log hauls to guide the logs off of conveyor rollers when they are pulled off by cant hooks when a conveyor is stopped or when they are kicked ofi by conventional log kickers. These inclines usually consist of a plurality of rails mounted on a frame to one side of the conveyor frame and which rails extend from the ground up to a point adjacent the uppermost point of the periphery of the side edges of the conveyor rollers, the rails being notched out where required to clear pillow blocks, gears and the like. Such an incline support is shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 at 50, 51.

It is further to be pointed out that a plurality of plate elements can be mounted in pairs along an extended log haul or conveyor to provide plural sorting stations. The controls for the several fluid motors can be coordinated with a control panel where the operator can preselect vwhich pair of plates 'is to be actuated to kick a particular log to one side or the other of the line of travel.

While conventional manually operated four-way valves can be associated with each motor for each pair of kicker plates, the invention contemplates a pivotally mounted blade, vane, or abutment that is mounted in line with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor on the downstream side of the pair of plates as regards the direction of movement of the log and which blade or vane is adapted to be normally held in a vertical position to be engaged by the front of a moving log passing over the plates whereby the movement of the log depresses the .blade and the depressing or downward pivoting movement of this blade actuates a valve embodied in the fluid control circuit to effect movement of the plates, if such movement is required by the selection made by the operator.

In the simplest form of the invention, where plural pairs of kicker plates are mounted in a conveyor, each fluid motor is separately controlled from a master station and valve control means are selectively operated to move the piston in one direction orthe'other from this control station with the operator selecting Whichever pair of plates are to be moved.

The control or selector means by which the kicker device is operated is most readily understood by reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawing. Thecontrol is 4 shown as being pneumatic which is the preferred medium but it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the control could be hydraulic.

A supply pipe 12 supplies air to the system. The air supply is preferably provided from a compressor, not shown, through a collector tank 13 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Supply pipe 12 divides into two branches, one branch 14 supplies air to the control means for the kicker, and the other branch 15 supplies air to the main air-cylinder valve 16 by which air is admitted to and exhausted from cylinder 5 by flexible tube 17 to the top of the cylinder and flexible tube 18 to the bottom of the cylinder.

Branch 14, 14 leads to control or selector valve 19. A trigger valve 21 is interposed in branch 14, 14. Trigger valve 21 is located at the down-stream or discharge end of the conveyor kicker assembly and is mounted on one of the frame elements 21'.

Trigger valve 21 may be of any configuration that will perform the triggering function. As shown in Figure 5, by way of example, the body 21 of the valve may be cylindrical and is mounted on a plate 42. A valve spool 43 is slidably mounted in body 21. Spool 43 is urged upwardly by a spring 44 against a valve operating lever 38 pivoted to plate 42 at 38. The valve is, of course, to be mounted in such a location that cam 23 in vane 22 will depress lever 38 when vane 22 is struck by the end of a log progressing along over rollers 30. Spool 43 is provided with two passages, an air supply passage 45 and'an air vent passage 39. As will be seen in Figure 5, these passages are arranged so that when the lever 38 is depressed air supply passage 45 will permit passage of air from air line 14 to line 14' but when the lever 38 is released, spring 44 moves the spool 43 upwardly to cut off the supply of air from line 14 and to vent line 14'.

As will appear more clearly below, the device would not operate properly if the air line 14' is suddenly vented upon return of the trigger vane to its vertical position as such sudden venting would cause the plates 1 to return to their horizontal position before the log had cleared the side of the conveyor; for this reason a restricted opening 40 is provided in the valve tending to retard the venting of line 14'. Figure 5 shows opening 40 to be adjustable by use of a needle valve 46, while Figure 4 illustrates that once the orifice size is determined for an installation the opening can be drilled in the valve casing and the installation will not be subject to the annoyance, if not hazards, of having the venting speed become out of adjustment. Adjustability is only required where the volume of lines 14', 27 and 28 is varied by relocation of control valve 19 to a more distant point which would perhaps increase the volume of air to be vented to the degree that the return of plates 1 to the horizontal would be undesirably slow.

A trigger valve tripping vane 22 carrying a cam 23 is 'mounted on a horizontal transverse pivot 24 at the top of frame elements 20 so that the vane normally extends vertically into the path of a log on the conveyor, but the vane will revolve about pivot 24 to lie flat to permit the end, at least, of a log to pass over it as seen in Figures 8 and 9. A spring 25 is provided to return the vane 22 to vertical position.

The branch 14, 14 as stated above, leads to the selector valve 19, which is a three position D valve. The three positions are shown schematically in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Two air lines 27, 28 lead from control valve 19 to a pilot cylinder 26, one air line 27 leads to the left hand end of pilot cylinder 26 as seen in the drawings, and the other air line 28 leads to the right hand end of the pilot cylinder.

Pilot cylinder 26 is connected by connecting rod and piston assembly 29 to the slide 31 of main aircylinder valve 16, which, as stated above, operates to supply air to the main air-cylinder by tubes 17 and 18.

Main air-cylinder valve 16, 31 may be of any suitable design but is shown by way of example as being provided with passages 32 and 33 by which air is supplied to either 'to depress lever 38 of trigger valve 21.

greases tube 17 or tube 18, according to the position of the slide 31 in the valve housing. A third passage 34 vents tubes 18 or 17 or closes them both off according to the location of element 31 in the valve housing.

A centralizing lever 35, pivoted at its mid-point to frame 21' near valve 16 is also pivoted to an extension of piston rod 29. This lever, the function of which will be explained later, is rocked by movement of valve 31 against the tension of springs 36 and 37 connected to one end, as seen in Figure 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As soon as the operator has determined the destination of the log on the conveyor he sets the selector valve toward the right hand side of the conveyor if the log is to be deflected or kicked to the right, as in Figure 9; to the left as in Figure 8 if he wishes the log to be kicked to the left; or in the center as in Figure 7 if the log is to pass straight over the kicker.

Operating sequence.In normal run, see Figure 7, the log passes over the top of plates 1, strikes the trigger valve vane 22, pushing it to the'left and causing cam 23 This action stretches vane return spring 25.

Air from hose 12 flows through line 14, through line 14' all the way back to the selector valve at the conrol booth.

Since the selector valve is in the center position, no air can pass through so nothing happens. The log will convey right on across the kicker. After the back end of the log passes the trigger valve vane 22,'spring 25 returns the vane to the vertical position. The cam rotates back to the original position, the trigger valve lever 38 rises and opens the exhaust port 39 and closes end off line 14. This line has pressure at all times when the supply line is open.

Now assuming the operator places the selector valve in the left position as seen in Figure 8, air pressure is at the main air-cylinder valve 16 at all times, but since the valve spool is in the neutral position, no air can enter.

Air pressure is also in line 14 but since the trigger 'valve No. 1 is in the neutral position, no air can pass into line 14'.

Now a log comes along over plates 1 striking trigger valve vane 22, depressing the vane and rotating cam 23 which pushes down trigger valve lever 38 opening the way for air pressure to flow through trigger valve 21 and in to line 14' all the way to the selector valve on the control booth.

Now the air enters the selector valve and since the valve handle is in the left position, the way is open for air pressure to flow through the selector valve and out line 28. (Line 27 is vented by way of vent hole 41.)

This line is connected to the pilot cylinder 26 at the front of the cylinder and the air pressure forces the pilot cylinder piston to the left, pushing the piston shaft 29 which is fastened to the main cylinder air valve spool and causes main cylinder air valve spool to open a passage 32 for air pressure to flow from hose 15 to hose 18.

Also this movement of the main cylinder air valve spool opens another passage 34 for air pressure to flow from the main cylinder 5 through hose 17, allowing the air pressure in hose 18 to move piston and piston shaft 4 to the top of main cylinder 5, thereby rocking plates 1 through arm 7' clockwise so as to place the left hand edge of plates as seen in Figures 1 and 2 uppermost. This will cause any log supported by the plates 1 to be rolled to the left side of the plates 1 and so off of the conveyor, as seen in Figure 3.

In the event of a log that has a crooked end, for instance that is sticking up so as to just depress the trigger valve vane enough to barely open the trigger valve, it is plain that as soon as the log starts to be raised by the flipper plates, the trigger valve vane would return and the flipper plates would level before the log has rolled off of the slanting edges. To give the log time to clear the plates 'ing lever 35 to turn clockwise,

and conveyor, the restriction 40 is placed in the exhaust port of valve 21 to hold the plates tilted for about four seconds until the lines exhaust through the trigger valve exhaust port.

When the log is off of the conveyor, the trigger valve vane spring 25 returns the trigger valve vane 22 to the vertical position. This causes the cam 23 to rotate to the position where the trigger valve lever 38 will rise to the top position where the exhaust port 39 will open allowing all pressure to leave line 14 and line 28.

Now spring 37, see Figure 2, was stretched by the movement of the pilot cylinder piston shaft 29 pushing main cylinder air valve spool to the left, which causedcentraliz- 7 upon venting of air lines 28 and 14' the tension of spring 37 will pull main cylinder air valve spool 31 and shaft 29 to the extreme right. This position will cause pressure to enter hose 17 through passage 32' and will open the passage for pressure to be released from the bottom of the main air cylinder through hose 18 and out the exhaust port of the main cylinder air valve.

When the kicker plates -1 return to horizontal, motion of centralizing lever 35 stretches the spring 36 which pulls the centralizing lever to a point where the main cylinder air valve spool and the pilot cylinder piston shaft are in the neutral position shutting off any air pressure beyond the main cylinder air valve and the trigger valve. Any log that contacts the trigger valve .vane with the selector valve handle in the to the left position will cause the foregoing series of motions.

Spring 36 is shown as secured to the frame of the conveyor and spring 37 to crank '2. It will be noted that these springs may also be secured to link 3 on each side of lever 35. In such case the two springs may be of equal strength instead of having different strengths. It will be seen from Figure 10 that when the upper end of centralizing lever 35 moves to the right and the plates 1 are tipped to the right, link 3 will move to the left which will tension spring 37 and relax spring 36. Upon venting of pressure in cylinder 26 the tension in spring 37 will pull valve slide 31 to the left beyond the center position so air will be admitted above the piston in cylinder 5. As the piston moves downwardly link 3 will move to the right which will relieve the tension in spring37. When the link 3 has reached its normal position (plates 1 horizontal) both springs will be equally tensioned and the device will be ready for performance of another kicking operation.

Now if the operator places the selector valve in the to the right position, see Figure 9, and a log contacts the trigger valve vane 22 causing trigger valve cam 23 to depress trigger valve lever 38, the way is opened for air pressure to flow from line 12 through line 14 through trigger valve 21 into line 14 all the way to the selector valve which is open for pressure to pass through the selector valve and this time into line 27 which is fastened to the left-hand end of the pilot cylinder, line 28 exhausting through port 41.

This pressure forces the pilot cylinder piston and shaft to the extreme right causing the main cylinder air valve spool to be moved to the extreme right. This causes the valve spool 31 to open the passage 32 for air pressure from hose 15 to flow through the main cylinder air valve and into hose 17 which is fastened to the top of main air cylinder 5. Also with the main cylinder air valve spool in this position, the air from the bottom side of the main air cylinder will be exhausted through hose 18 and out the exhaust port 34 of the main cylinder air valve 16.

The main cylinder piston and rod 4 will now move to the extreme down position, rocking the flipper plates 1 to the left as seen in Figures 2 and 9 so as to place the right edge of plates 1 uppermost. In this position any log supported by the slanting edge of plates 1 will roll on 7 the edge of the plates toward the right hand side and off of the conveyor.

As soon as a log has cleared the trigger valve vane, the spring 25 returns the trigger valve vane to vertical, causing cam 23 to release trigger valve lever 38 which returns to up position, opening exhaust passage 39, 40 and closing end of line 14.

Pressure from the pilot cylinder 26 exhausts through line 27 through selector valve at the control booth back through line 14 and out the trigger valve exhaust 40.

When pressure is no longer present in pilot cylinder 26 the spring 36, which is tensioned by movement of rod 29 rotating centralizing lever 35, snaps the top of the centralizing lever 35 to the right. This forces the maincylinder air valve spool to the extreme left causing the air pressure to enter hose 18 and releases pressure in hose 17 through the exhaust port 34' of the main cylinder air valve.

When the main air-cylinder has returned the plates 1 to the normal horizontal position, the spring 36 will have lost all tension and be fully collapsed at that point. Spring 37 has taken over and pulled on the end of centralizing lever 35 back to neutral position moving the main cylinder air valve spool along with the pilot cylinder shaft and piston to the neutral position, thereby shutting off all air pressure beyond the main cylinder air valve and the trigger valve.

Any log that contacts the trigger valve vane, with the selector valve handle in the to the right position, will cause the foregoing series of motions.

For instance, a check valve 12' can be inserted in line 14 adjacent its juncture with line 12 and upstream of the pipe section 15. The air flowing in line 12 is at a predetermined pressure when it enters lines 14 and 15 and flows through 14, the trigger valve, line 14' to selector valve 19, through this valve and line 28 into pilot cylinder 26 to push the pilot piston to the left, Figure 8. This action shifts valve 31 to the left to open communication between line section 15 and conduit 18. Since conduit 18 is larger in cross-sectional area than conduit 14 and 14' and since the piston area in cylinder is greater than that in pilot cylinder 26, the differential volume factor will cause an air pressure drop with the possibility of air bleeding back from line 14 into line 15. The check valve is inserted at the juncture of line 14 with 12 to prevent any backflow of air into these lines in the event they would be under reduced pressure. The check valve will tend to prevent any pressure being lost through line 28 so as to ensure that the piston and pilot cylinder is maintained in the extreme left position.

It is evident in carrying out my invention that certain changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details in the illustrative embodiment shown and described in this specification, but

rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for selectively manipulating elongated substantially cylindrical articles to. either side of a line of travel in which the articles are moved longitudinally of their axes, including at least two ejector plates normally positioned in and below the line of travel of said articles, each plate having opposite edges extending across the line of travel at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the line of travel, .means for selectively and simultaneously rocking the plates to move said edges upwardly into engagement with the article to deflect the same transversely of the line of travel, comprising fluid pressure operated means operatively interconnected with the plates to rock the same in selected opposite directions, a source of fluid under pressure, conduit means interconnecting the source of said fluid pressure to said operating means, a main control valve in said conduit means movable to extreme positions determining the direction of rocking movement from an intermediate neutral position, means normally biasing said main control valve to said intermediate neutral position, branch conduit means communicating with said source upstream of said main control valve, an article actuated trigger valve in said branch conduit means and including a member normally positioned in the line of travel and movable when engaged by an article to actuate the trigger valve, a pilot cylinder and piston means operatively interconnected with said main control valve to selectively actuate the same in opposite directions, a selector valve controlling the operation of said pilot cylinder and piston means, and conduit means interconnecting the trigger valve and the selector valve and interconnecting the selector valve and both ends of the pilot cylinder means respectively whereby actuation of the selector valve determines the direction of movement of the main control valve and thus the direction of rocking movement of the plates and actuation of the trigger valve by an article causes the plates to rock in the direction determined by the selected position of the selector valve, or to remain stationary.

2. Means for selectively manipulating elongated substantially cylindrical articles to either side of a line of travel as claimed in claim 1, in which the trigger valve includes a flow position and a venting position and means for restricting the venting of the trigger valve whereby the return of the plates to normal is delayed a sufficient time to permit complete deflection of articles from the conveyor.

3. Means for selectively manipulating elongated substantially cylindrical articles to either side of a line of travel as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for maintaining the main control valve in intermediate position includes a centralizing lever and means operatively interconnecting said lever with said plate actuating means and the main control valve respectively, whereby, whenever said trigger valve is not in contact with an article, said fluid pressure operated means will be returned to its intermediately neutral position.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3 in which the means operatively interconnecting the centralizing lever with the plate actuating means includes spring means.

5. A conveying system for selectively distributing articles to opposite sides of a line of travel, said system including means for moving articles along the line of travel, article deflecting means operatively associated with the conveyor for selective actuation to selectively deflect articles to one side or the other of the line of travel, said deflecting means being so constructed and arranged as to selectively permit passage of articles past the same without deflection, fluid pressure operated means for actuating said deflecting means including a source of fluid under pressure, a main control valve determining the position of said deflector means, pilot cylinder and piston means for actuating said main control valve, a selector valve remote from said ejector means whereby an operator can preselect whether to eject each article and to which side of the line of travel such articles are to be ejected, means providing direct fluid communication between said source and said main control valve, and article controlled trigger valve means positioned in the line of travel of the articles communicating respectively with said source upstream of the main control valve and with said selector valve whereby the fluid flows from said source to said selector valve to said pilot cylinder to actuate the main control valve only in response to actuation of said selector valve.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 and means operatively interconnected between said main control valve and said deflecting means for maintaining the main control valve in an intermediate position corresponding to that position of the deflecting means which permits the passage of articles past the same.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 in which the article deflecting means comprise pivotally mounted plates having opposite edges extending at an angle to the line of travel When the plates are horizontal, the conveyor Comprising double coned rolls having a trough for receiving and forwarding elongated articles and the plates normally lying at least slightly below the trough of the rolls, the rocking of the plates disposing the angled edges thereof athwart the line of travel to lift articles from the rolls and deflect them transversely thereof.

8. In combination with means for conveying elongated articles along the line of travel, means at a station along the line of travel so constructed and arranged to selectively permit passage of articles thereby or deflect articles to one side or the other of the line of travel, fluid pressure actuated means for said last mentioned means comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a first branch, a main control valve therein, an actuating cylinder and piston arrangement communicating with said main control valve, said main control valve having three positions, one permitting fluid to flow to said actuating cylinder to move the same in a direction to deflect articles to one side of the line of travel, another position to permit fluid to flow to said actuating cylinder to move the same in the opposite direction to deflect articles to the other side of the line of travel and an intermediate position whereby said actuating piston is in an intermediate position and articles can move past the deflecting means, a second branch including a pilot cylinder and piston arrangement, a selector valve and a trigger valve, said selector valve having positions corresponding to the positions of the main control valve, means providing communication between the selector valve and the opposite ends of the pilot cylinder, means interconnecting the pilot piston with the main control valve whereby the position of the pilot piston in response to the position of the selector valve determines the position of the main control valve, said selector valve being remote from the station, and said trigger valve including a movably mounted control member normally positioned inthe line of travel of the articles at the station and depressible thereby to actuate the trigger valve to permit fluid to flow through said second branch to said selector valve, the arrangement being such that movement of the selector valve to a desired position causes fluid to flow to said pilot cylinder to actuate the pilot piston to move the control valve to the desired position to cause movement of the actuating piston to deflect the articles upon actuation of the trigger valve.

9. Means as claimed in claim 8 in which the trigger valve is a two-position valve, one position permitting full flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said selector valve and the other position preventing such flow, said trigger valve having a restricted vent opening operable in said other position to vent fluid from that exhaust side of the pilot piston and the other position to vent the pressure side of the pilot cylinder whereby the return of the deflecting means to normal position is delayed.

10. Means as claimedin claim 8 and further including means operably interconnected with the deflecting means with the main control valve to normally maintain the latter in a position preventing fluid flow to either end of the actuating cylinder.

11. A conveyor system including means for conveying material along the line of travel, a station where material may be deflected to either side of the line of travel or permitted to pass through the station, fluid pressure operable actuating means at the station for deflecting material to either side, control means for the fluid pressure operable means comprising a two-branch pressure system, one branch including a valve controlling the fluid pressure operable means, the other branch including a pilot cylinder, an article control trigger valve at the station, and a selector valve controlling the pilot cylinder and piston means, means linking the pilot cylinder and piston means whereby the movement of the pilot piston determines movement of the main control valve and thus movement of the fluid pressure operable means, said selector valve determining movement of said pilot piston, and said trigger valve and said selector valve being so constructed and arranged that upon presetting of the selector valve the trigger valve upon actuation permits fluid to flow through the selector valve to the pilot cylinder to move the same in accordance with the preset position of the selector valve whereby corresponding movement is imparted to the main control valve and the fluid pressure operable means are actuated to deflect material according to the setting of the selector valve.

12. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 11 in which means are operatively interconnected between the main control valve and the deflecting means to normally maintain the main control valve in the position permitting passage of material through the station.

13. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 12 in which said means comprise a centralizing lever pivotally mounted intermediate its length, said main control valve including a slide, extension on the slide pivotally connected to one end of said lever and means interconnecting the other end of the lever with the deflecting means.

14. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 13 in which said last mentioned means comprise two springs, one end of each being connected to said other end of said lever and the opposite end of one of said springs being connected to the deflecting means and the opposite end of the other of said springs being fixed.

15. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 11 in which the trigger valve includes a first position permitting flow of fluid under pressure to the selector valve and then to the pilot cylinder depending upon the actuation of the selector valve, and a second position for venting fluid from the pressure side of the pilot cylinder via the selector valve, means normally maintaining said trigger valve in said second position, article actuated means for moving said trigger valve to said first position, means normally maintaining said last mentioned means in position to be engaged by an oncoming article or material whereby when the trigger valve is moved to said first position fluid flows to and through the selector valve to the pilot cylinder to cause actuation of the main control valve and thus the deflecting means to deflect to that side of the line of travel determined by the setting of the selector valve, the article engageable means immediately returning to normal position whereby said trigger valve moves to said second position and the venting of fluid through the trigger valve being at a reduced rate whereby return of the deflecting means to normal position is delayed in time suflicient to permit complete deflection of the articles.

16. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 15 and means for adjusting the venting of the trigger valve.

17. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 11 in which the said control valve includes a valve housing having an inlet port and a first and second outlet port, a valve in said housing so constructed and arranged that upon movement in one direction from a central closed position the said inlet port is connected to the first of said outlet ports and upon movement in the other direction said inlet port is connected to the second of said outlet ports, and in which a vent is provided to vent whichever of said outlet ports is not connected to said inlet port.

18. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 11 in which the selector valve, upon actuation of the trigger valve diverts the pressure from the trigger valve to one or the other end of the pilot cylinder or closes ofl the pressure supply to the pilot cylinder according to its manual setting to select the operation of the conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,027 Wilkinson June 8, 1897 921,165 Ross May 11, 1909 2,429,007 Wilske et al. Oct. 14, 1947 

